Congress demands thorough probe; asks for review of ex-gratia
Our Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 1
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) while demanding a thorough probe in the entire incident leading to the killing of Chief Minister’s bodyguard, Moakumzuk at Benreu village, today asked the state government to review the ex-gratia of Rs. 2 announced by the cabinet yesterday. “The tragic incident in which police personnel, Moakumzuk Jamir of the Chief Minister’s security escort was killed in an alleged “accidental firing” that also injured two other police personnel at Benreu village gate yesterday was an avoidable situation had the proper security measures been undertaken beforehand,” said NPCC media cell in a release.
The NPCC said then said, of late, it has become a rule rather than exception during every tribal festival and celebration to randomly fire blank shots by civilians, majority of whom have no knowledge in handling of weapons other than to pull the trigger.
“The callous attitude of the state government to compromise on this basic safety issue of handling weapons that has put the lives of the public at great peril during such functions and celebrations is therefore being questioned,” the Congress said.
Extending its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of the deceased police personnel, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee demanded a thorough probe into this serious security lapse that could have even endangered the life of the Chief Minister who was in close proximity.
It also expressed that the officer in charge of security at the venue and other concerned CM’s staffs should be held duly responsible for their laxity as this tragic incident can never be treated as a mere accidental occurrence.
Further, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee maintained that the state cabinet granting an ex-gratia payment Rs. 2 lakhs to the next of kin of the deceased personnel who died on the line of duty while protecting the state Chief Minister has to be reviewed. This meager amount can never do justice to the service and sacrifice of the police personnel who risk their lives for the protected, it said.
Remarking that ‘no amount of money can compensate the life of an individual’, NPCC said the state government needs to be more sensitive on the sacrifices of the brave police personnel when it can spend lakhs and crores of rupees on other needless entertainment and merrymaking activities.
